Wife And Husband Team Rebecca And Ryan Hill And Partner Brad Schiewe Bring The North American Property Restoration Brand To Yet Another BC City
Ryan and Rebecca Hill, along with business partner Brad Schiewe launched a First General branch in Nanaimo in 2019, and followed up with a new location in Victoria in February of 2021
VICTORIA – When Ryan and Rebecca Hill opened their restoration company in October of 2010, they brought a wealth of expertise to the table. Ryan’s twenty-plus years of experience in construction and Rebecca’s equally substantial experience in sales and marketing gave them the combined skillset to become successful entrepreneurs in a very competitive industry.
Ryan Hill, Co-Owner and President of First General Nanaimo and Victoria, brings twenty-five-plus years of experience in construction and leadership
When they transitioned their business to the First General brand in 2019 in order to expand their national insurer partnerships, the melding of their growing company with the established national brand was a no-brainer.
“First General shares our vision for growth and excellence. It was a natural fit,” explains Ryan.
Established in 1983, First General has led the property damage restoration industry in technology, service, and customer approval rating for decades. They’re a company that prides itself on offering customers peace of mind in the most distressing of times. The Hills naturally fit right in with First General’s company ethos and commitment to customer satisfaction.
They fit so well in fact, after establishing their First General location in Nanaimo in 2019, Ryan and Rebecca expanded to a new location in Victoria in February of 2021. Together with General Manager and business partner Brad Schiewe, the driving force in executing the company’s vision, strategy, and values within day-to-day operations, the trio are a true example of what First General stands for.
General Manager Brad Schiewe drives the company’s vision, strategy, and values within day-to-day operations
On her role, Rebecca explains, “In addition to being an owner, I am the sales and marketing manager for First General, fostering new and existing relationships, and ensuring we deliver value for our partners and customers. It’s a role I take great pride in and deeply enjoy.”
Ryan’s role as president brings his twenty-five-plus year experience in the emergency restoration and reconstruction space to the fore, while also setting the overall vision and strategy for the organization. Ryan works closely with his twenty-one full-time employees, as well as longstanding local subcontracting companies and partners to provide the very best restoration services to BC residents. Ryan makes a point to offer subject matter expertise and mentorship to his talented employees on a daily basis.
The road to where they are today is paved with the hard work they put into establishing themselves in a new province.
“We moved to BC to start our company, “elaborates Rebecca. “Even though we had no local contacts, we quickly become a valued partner to local insurance adjusters and brokers due to our commitment to exceptional service, as well as Ryan’s industry knowledge and expertise. After only three years we outgrew our first space and experienced sustained and steady growth throughout our time in business. Joining the First General network was a really important next step for us. While it definitely brought about significant challenges at first, it has truly helped propel our growth.”
Rebecca Hill serves as Co-Owner, Sales and Marketing Manager for First General’s Nanaimo and Victoria locations
That growth was a key factor in their expansion into Victoria from the Nanaimo market.
Says Brad, “The opening of the Victoria office is a real celebration for us of a long-held vision and goal. This is especially true given we were able to take this step during all of the challenges that the pandemic has brought. It is a great accomplishment for our team, and evidence of their dedication, perseverance and willingness to embrace challenge and change.”
Expanding within BC itself has also been a special and fulfilling experience for the Hills.
“One of the things we’re most passionate about is being a part of the diverse and dynamic business community in BC,” says Rebecca. “We love the passion people on Vancouver Island have for supporting local business. We are very grateful that we have an opportunity to do that by working with so many local specialized trades. Nurturing these partnerships is really an area where we have excelled as an organization and we see these relationships as fundamental to our companies growth and success.”
With Ryan, Rebecca and Brad representing the First General name, there are no doubt BC residents in need of their services who will find themselves in expert hands, with a team truly dedicated to being the very best in their industry.
